From the moment Zhang Han adopted Sima Xin's suggestion and decided to launch an active attack on the Julu battlefield, history has entered a completely different fork in the road.

In the original history, the confident Zhang Han resolutely implemented the tactics of besieging the city and sending reinforcements on the Julu battlefield, and almost lured all the anti-Qin rebels who could be lured to the Julu battlefield, but he met Xiang Yu, the overlord of Western Chu, and created a miracle to defeat the Great Wall Corps of the Qin Army in charge of the siege, and the main force of Zhang Han stationed in the Thorn Plains was pinned down by the Chu army's partial division Yingbu and Chai Wu's department, and failed to go north in time to rescue Wang Li, resulting in Wang Li's corps being beaten to death by the princes' coalition forces who took advantage of the fire to rob, which was self-defeating. It was completely overturned by the Chu army and the coalition of princes.

Although Zhang Han also attracted a large number of anti-Qin righteous divisions, but because of the instigation of the wings of Xiang Kang, the demon moth, the vitality of the main force of the Chu army not only recovered faster than in history, but also approached the Julu battlefield earlier than in history, plus Xiang Kang's department was like a poisonous snake behind the main force of the Qin army, and it was possible to take advantage of the situation at any time, Zhang Han was no longer so light on the enemy, and decisively chose to strike first, and took the initiative to take the initiative before the main force of the Chu army arrived at the Julu battlefield. The anti-Qin coalition forces that arrived first were attacked, and the direction of the Battle of Julu became more different from history.

After receiving the news that the main force of the young marshal's army suddenly attacked Puyang, although Zhang Han arranged for Sima Xin and Zhang Ping, who stayed in the Thorn Plain, to rescue Puyang at the first time, he did not immediately disclose the news that it was likely to affect the morale of the army, and he also gritted his teeth and continued to storm the Qi army camp that was already difficult to support, and the result was the same as Zhang Han hoped, the sun had not yet set, and the Qin army soldiers rushed into the Chinese army camp of the Qi army. The Qin army pursued the victory, beheaded more than 12,000 Qi troops, captured almost all of the Qi army's military rations, and basically destroyed the main force of the Qi rescue army.

Then, when the main force of the Chu army had arrived on the east bank of Zhangshui, Zhang Han only sent 10,000 troops eastward to reinforce the dune platform, temporarily blocking the river crossing road of the main force of the Chu army, and resolutely launched an attack on the Yan army led by Zang Di, which broke through the Yan army camp in less than two days, and temporarily drove the remnants of the Yan army out of the Julu battlefield. He was forced to temporarily stationed on the east bank of Zhangshui to wait and see the situation.

If God could give Zhang Han a few more days, Zhang Han might be very likely to completely rewrite the ending of the Julu War, but unfortunately, at noon on the day when Zhang Han's troops successfully broke through the Yan army camp, the Thorn Yuan battalion sent fast horses to send bad news, saying that the main force of the young marshal army had quickly taken Puyang City by shameless fraud and cut off the main artery of the Qin army's grain road. Therefore, after taking the Yan army camp, although the morale of the Qin army generals was high, they asked Zhang Han to strike while the iron was hot and continue to attack the camp of Chen Yu, Zhang Ao and Sima Wei and other anti-Qin rebels, but Zhang Han smiled bitterly and did not dare to respond.

In the end, after repeatedly weighing the pros and cons, Zhang Han secretly introduced the bad news that Puyang had been lost to several of his cronies, but Zhao Ben, Shi Cheng and Zhou Zhi and other generals were of course shocked when they heard it, and hurriedly asked: "General, has our army launched a counterattack on Puyang?" Are you sure you can get Puyang back as soon as possible? ”

"If I am sure that I can get Puyang back as soon as possible, I won't be so worried." Zhang Han said with a wry smile: "Our main force is in Julu, the Thorn Yuan garrison has to guard the grain and grass, the boats and the wharf, at most we can only divide one or two thousand troops to attack Puyang, Sima must defend Ao Cang and cannot move lightly, Dong Kan only has 10,000 troops, even if we join forces with our Thorn Yuan garrison, at most we can only fight with Xiang Kang Xiao'er, let alone recapture Puyang Jiancheng." ”

"But if we can't recapture Puyang as soon as possible, we will be in danger after a long time." Shi Cheng said in a panic: "After a long time, our grain and grass supply is not available, and the thief army on the Julu battlefield receives the news that Xiang Kang's thief army has taken Puyang, and they will definitely take advantage of the fire to rob us, entangle us to the death, and drag our food to chaos, then we will not be able to fight this battle." ”

"That's why I blocked the news and didn't dare to make it public." Zhang Han smiled bitterly, and said: "Fortunately, judging from the current situation, the thief army must not have had time to get in touch with Xiang Kang Xiao'er, otherwise, Xiang Yu Pifu will definitely seize the opportunity to force the Zhangshui to entangle us, and not give us the opportunity to calmly withdraw from the Julu battlefield." ”

After finishing speaking, Zhang Han sighed, and said with a sad face: "We only have two choices left now, one is to send heavy troops to counterattack Puyang and reopen our grain routes, but if we do this, our army will be deployed to the three battlefields of Puyang, Thorn Plains and Julu respectively, and it will definitely ......be extremely dangerous to divide the troops too much." ”

"General, you must not divide your troops." Shi Cheng, who was very smart, hurriedly objected: "Once we divide our troops, the thief army on the Giant Deer battlefield will definitely immediately understand that our rear is changing, and they will definitely take advantage of the fire to loot and storm our army in the Thorn Plain or Julu, and then we will be in danger of being broken by the thief army." ”

Zhang Han, who had already suffered a few big losses in dividing his troops, nodded, and said: "The second way is not to divide the troops, first withdraw the main force of us and Wang Li south to the Thorn Plains to protect and stock up on grain, and then retreat west to the west of Puyang to get grain, first establish an invincible position, and then find a way to deal with the thief army outside the Guanwai." ”

"General, with all due respect, it's still dangerous to do this." Shi Cheng reminded again: "Our army has won consecutive battles, and has broken the Yan Qi thief army, so scared that the Zhao thief does not dare to move, and the Chu thief does not dare to cross the river, at this time there is no reason to suddenly retreat south, the thief army will definitely understand that our rear is changing, even if we do not get in touch with Xiang Kang's rebels, we will definitely take the opportunity to send troops to pursue, and we will still fall into passivity at that time." ”

"That's what I'm most worried about right now." Zhang Han's face was even more sad, and he said: "The thief army is not a fool, when they find out that we are retreating suddenly, they must know that there is a reason for it, as long as they decisively launch a pursuit and bite our main brigade, we will not only fall into complete passivity, but also very dangerous." ”

"We can't risk dividing our troops, and we can't retreat directly, so what should we do?" Nei Shibao and Zhou Zhi and the other generals were panicked when they heard this, and they all said: "If we don't make adjustments as soon as possible, when the thief army knows that our grain route has been cut off by Xiang Kang Xiao'er, we will be even more dangerous." ”

"Don't panic, we still have a chance." Zhang Han said very calmly: "As long as we hurry up, take advantage of Xiang Kang'er's lack of time to get in touch with the thief army on the Julu battlefield now, and arrange an illusion to cover our retreat as soon as possible, so that the thief army will feel that our retreat is not a fire in the rear, but something else, and the thief army may not take the opportunity to launch a pursuit." ”

The generals of the Qin army nodded yes one after another, and immediately came up with ideas, but the result was that everyone collected firewood and the flame was high, and after listening carefully to the suggestions of their colleagues, Shi Cheng, the general of the Qin army, who was very much loved by Zhang Han, put forward a good suggestion and said: "General, how about this?" Didn't we catch some of the Yan thieves and Qi thieves in the past two days, why don't we pick a few out of the middle, buy them with money, let them pretend to escape from our prisoner of war camp, and go separately to tell the Chu thief and the Zhao thief, just say that the general was wounded by a stray arrow in today's attack on the camp, and the injury is not light, so you can only lift the siege of Julu City and retreat south with the army. ”

"In this way, as long as the group of thieves outside the gate discovers that the captives we sent are reporting false news, and they see us suddenly retreating southward, they will definitely suspect that we are deliberately luring the enemy and dare not immediately launch a pursuit, and our main force can take the opportunity to withdraw to the Thorn Plains as soon as possible, and then move to the west."

As soon as Shi Cheng's words were finished, the generals of the Qin army present had already objected, and they all said: "It's too risky to do this, if it is self-defeating, what if the thief army believes it and really resolutely pursues us?" ”

"It's definitely not self-defeating." Shi Cheng said confidently: "How confidential is the matter of the general's wounding by a stray arrow, how can the Chu thief and the Yan thief easily believe the report of a few captives, as long as they casually ask the truth from one of the prisoners, they will definitely inform each other of the news and warn the other thieves not to fall for us." ”

The generals of the Qin army were still very worried, and Zhang Han thought about it, and in the absence of a better way, Zhang Han gritted his teeth and said: "Just do this, we must also take a risk, otherwise once Xiang Kang's rebel thieves get in touch with the group of thieves outside the Guan, we will have no chance to retreat calmly." ”

After that, in addition to arranging for Shi Cheng to handle this matter himself, Zhang Han also instructed: "Remember, we must make it clear to those prisoners who went to tell the truth, just say that the reason why we want to do this is because the camp of the group of thieves outside the gate is too difficult to fight, and there are too many casualties in the forced attack, and we are not sure to take Julu City, so we can only find a way to lure the thief army out of the camp and fight a decisive battle." In addition, tell them that as long as they help us succeed in luring the enemy, we will also seal them as officials. ”

Shi Cheng agreed, and immediately acted according to Zhang Han's instructions, and Zhang Han personally wrote a book, sent a secret envoy to Wang Li's camp to contact Wang Li, secretly informed Wang Li of the situation in the rear, and asked Wang Li to prepare for a day to pull out the camp and raise troops, and move south with himself early in the morning of the third day to retreat to Thorn Plain. In addition, Zhang Han arranged for the army to tightly block the road and try to prevent Xiang Kang's messengers from getting in touch with the princes' allied forces, and at the same time asked the Qin generals to secretly inform the sergeants of his decision to retreat and lure the enemy, so as to prevent his retreat decision from making the Qin soldiers suspicious and affecting the morale of the army.

In the end, after arranging all this, Zhang Han slammed his fist on the table in front of him, gritted his teeth and said: "Xiang Kang Xiao'er, it's bad for me again!" Wait for General Ben to retreat to a safe place, free his hands, and see how General Ben cleans up your beam-jumping clown! ”

…………

Not to mention, Zhang Hanai's general Shi Cheng really anticipated the thoughts of the princes' coalition this time, and the next day, when the main force of the Qin army was preparing to retreat south, the Qi Yan prisoners of war who were bought by the Qin army rushed to the camp of the Chu army and the Zhao army to report on it, not to mention the treacherous and suspicious Zhao army general Chen Yu, and even Xiang Yu who was rectum immediately became suspicious, and immediately interrogated the informant prisoners separately, coercing and inducing them to confess the truth, and then they were still expected by Shi Cheng, under the careful interrogation of the Chu army officials, A prisoner of war from the Qi State who came to the Chu camp to report did defect again and confessed the truth.

"Except for the honest captive, all the others are buried alive!"

After Xiang Yu ordered to bury alive a few other captives who refused to tell the truth, Old Man Fan immediately stood up and said to Xiang Yu: "Former general, this matter can't be careless, we must immediately send someone to inform the other anti-Qin righteous divisions, so that they can also know that Zhang Handpifu is deliberately luring the enemy when he is preparing to retreat, otherwise, if they fall into the trap, we will be even weaker." ”

Xiang Yu treated his allies with some righteousness, and he agreed immediately without thinking about it, but just when Old Man Fan arranged for people to contact other anti-Qin righteous divisions, a soldier suddenly came into the report outside the account, saying that Chen Yu, the general of Zhao Guo, had sent an envoy to the camp and had confidential matters to report to Xiang Yu. Xiang Yu did not hesitate, and immediately ordered a summons, but what made Xiang Yu, Old Man Fan and others laugh at was that Chen Yu's envoy actually came to warn the main force of the Chu army, saying that they also learned through careful interrogation of the prisoners who went to the camp of the Zhao army to inform, that the so-called Zhang Han was shot and wounded by a stray arrow was fake, and it was true to take the opportunity to lure the enemy, and the main force of the Qin army, which was preparing to retreat, was planning to lure the enemy out of the camp for a decisive battle.

"I'm bothered." After sneering, Xiang Yu still thanked the envoy of Zhao Jun very politely, and asked him to take him down to eat, and then smiled at Old Man Fan: "Yes, Father, we don't need to spend our efforts, Chen Yu must have already told the news to others, and we don't need to send envoys to contact others." ”

When Old Man Fan nodded with a smile, the soldier surnamed Han, who was recommended to Xiang Yu by Feng Zhong next to him, suddenly stood up and said to Xiang Yu: "Former general, Fan Gong, please let Xiao Pawn speak bluntly, didn't you find out if the mistake was too big in the design of the Tyrannical Qin army to lure the enemy?" ”

"How old is it?" Xiang Yu asked casually.

"Why did we ask the truth from the informant prisoners here, and General Chen Yu also asked the truth easily?" The soldier surnamed Han pointed out: "When Zhang Handpifu arranged to lure the snake out of the hole, didn't he consider that the prisoners he sent were not strict and would betray his secrets? Also, when Zhang Han sent someone to arrange for these captives to inform, how could he tell these captives his purpose and intentions, which was completely unnecessary? ”

"There's no need for that?"

When Xiang Yu was calculating, Old Man Fan had already heard some clues, and hurriedly asked: "So, are you suspecting that Zhang Handpifu deliberately did this, deliberately letting those informant captives tell us his purpose?" ”

The soldier surnamed Han nodded calmly, and Old Man Fan asked again: "What is the purpose of that Zhang Handiff doing this?" ”

"Hypocrisy is hypocrisy, and the opposite is true." The soldier surnamed Han replied in a deep voice: "Use a fake snake to lure the snake out of the hole to cover his real withdrawal, so that we are afraid of falling into his trap and dare not risk sending troops to pursue, so he can take the opportunity to withdraw, calmly get rid of our pursuit, and quickly withdraw to a safe place." ”

Old man Fan was a little shaken, but Xiang Yu asked angrily: "Zhang Handpifu is crazy, do you really want to retreat?" In the past few days, he has broken through the camps of Tiandu and Zang Di one after another, and his troops are still far above us, why should he really retreat? ”

"There is only one possibility, there is a fire in his rear." The soldier surnamed Han clearly pointed out the only reason for Zhang Han's retreat, and said: "Former general, please don't forget, General You's army led the army to the west to attack Ao Cang, the largest granary of the tyrannical Qin outside the pass, if he succeeds, Zhang Handpifu will definitely receive the news earlier than us." ”

"So, do you think my brother has already laid down Aocang?" Xiang Yu finally got some interest.

"The pawn isn't sure." Without God's perspective, the soldiers surnamed Han couldn't be sure that Xiang Kang, who had always liked to steal and play tricks in the war, would be able to successfully take down Ao Cang, which was easy to defend and difficult to attack, but said: "But this possibility cannot be ruled out, and the plan arranged by Zhang Handipfu to lure the snake out of the hole is also obviously flawed, so the pawn suggested that the former general had better think twice, don't miss the opportunity to pursue, and give Zhang Handan a chance to escape." ”

If it was replaced by Feng Zhong, he would definitely ask for the opinions and suggestions of the soldiers surnamed Han, but unfortunately Xiang Yu was notoriously stubborn and self-serving, and he waved his hand and ordered: "Stand down, General Ben will consider it carefully." ”

Finally caught an opportunity to perform, of course the soldiers surnamed Han refused to miss it, and hurriedly said: "Former general, the fighter plane is rare, our army had better not be too conservative and passive, the pawn suggested, our army may as well prepare for the rush immediately, once the violent Qin army on the dune platform is found, immediately launch a rush, and then divide the army into two, one team pursues with all its might, and the other team follows to cover, if the violent Qin army is really retreating, then we will seize the opportunity to pursue to the end, if the violent Qin army is really ambushed, We can also rely on the back team to pick up and rescue the front team in time without losing too much. ”

This suggestion of the soldier surnamed Han is very appetizing to Xiang Yu, but it is still a pity, before Xiang Yu can think about it in detail, the old man Fan next to him has already opened his mouth and scolded: "Enough!" Ignorant pawns, talking about military aircraft, they don't even know that the sky is high and the earth is thick! You said that Zhang Handpifu did not consider that the prisoner's lax tone was deliberate, and he wanted to use a fake lure snake out of the hole to cover his real withdrawal, so that we did not dare to risk sending troops to pursue him, then do you dare to guarantee that Zhang Handpifu did this to hide the plan, alternating between fiction and reality, deliberately revealing flaws to lure us to pursue with confidence, and then take the opportunity to do it? ”

Of course, there is also this possibility for the old man Fan to point out this point, and the soldiers surnamed Han who do not have God's perspective can't refute it, but the old man Fan is unceremonious, and shouted: "Return to the train, this is not the place where you can talk!" ”

The soldiers surnamed Han still refused to give up, and when they secretly went to see Xiang Yu's expressions and reactions, Old Man Fan had already spoken again, and once again ordered the soldiers surnamed Han to retreat, and the soldiers surnamed Han who were soft-spoken had no choice but to obediently return to the train. Then Old Man Fan said to Xiang Yu: "Former general, no matter whether Zhang Han retreats or fakes to retreat next, we can only plan and then act, first find out the true intentions of Zhang Handipfu, and then improvise, we must not rashly pursue and fall into the trap of Zhang Handipfu." ”

After that, Old Man Fan also added, "And even if Zhang Handipfu really retreats, we will not miss the opportunity to do this, if the right general really takes Aocang, as long as he guards according to the danger and temporarily blocks Zhang Handipf for a while, our pursuers will arrive quickly, and we can still flank the army of the right general before and after, and break the violent Qin army." ”

Xiang Yu pondered and nodded, but the soldier surnamed Han sighed softly beside him, and said secretly: "It's beautiful to think about, if Xiang Kang's side just cut off the Tyrannical Qin's grain route and didn't take Aocang, and when the Tyrannical Qin army withdraws to a place where it can be safely fed, let's not say that we have seized the fighter plane to break the enemy, whether we can consume Zhang Handpifu is definitely a big problem." ”

Fortunately, the soldiers surnamed Han still have a chance, and when discussing with Old Man Fan, Xiang Yu made another decision on his own, saying: "Regardless of whether Zhang Handpifu really retreats or fakes to retreat, as long as he takes the initiative to give up the dune crossing, we must seize the opportunity to cross the river as soon as possible to join the Zhao army, so that we can not only reduce the loss of crossing the river, but also concentrate our troops in one place to prevent everything." ”